Are you an Etsy seller looking to take a quick break from the daily grind of running your online business? Maybe you want to sneak away on a tropical vacation, tackle some overdue life admin, or just need a few days to binge watch Netflix and eat junk food.
We all need a mental health week (or month) every once in awhile!
Luckily, Etsy provides a super simple way to temporarily put your shop on sleep mode so you can recharge without worrying about fulfilling orders or pleasing customers.
It‘s called vacation mode.
In this comprehensive guide, we’ll walk through exactly what vacation mode is, why over 100,000 Etsy sellers leverage it each year, and how to easily toggle your shop into snooze status in just a few clicks when you need a timeout.
I’ll also provide insider tips to help you seamlessly manage your store while you’re catching up on R&R so you can bounce back faster than ever!
Let’s dive in.
What Is Etsy Vacation Mode?
Vacation mode allows Etsy shop owners to quickly hide all active listings from search results so they cannot be purchased while temporarily away.
According to Etsy’s 2021 seller survey data, over 50% of store owners report utilizing vacation mode for breaks spanning anywhere from 5 days up to 1 month long.
Top reasons sellers cite enabling this feature include:
- Taking a vacation or holiday trip
- Recovering from illness / caring for family
- Completing large custom orders
- Restocking inventory & new product prep
- Attending conventions / trade shows
- Pausing for mental health reasons
So in summary:
Vacation mode lets you press pause on new orders coming in so you can focus on recharging and getting back to business with renewed creative energy!
Makes sense why so many entrepreneurs rely on it to maintain sanity without fully disrupting sales momentum, right?
Now let me walk you through exactly how to put your own Etsy shop into vacation mode when you need a break.
Step 1: Access Your Etsy Seller Account Portal
First, log into your Etsy seller account using your standard login email and password:
Etsy login page where sellers access shop manager dashboard
Once logged in, you‘ll see your shop manager dashboard which is command central for controlling all settings related to your Etsy storefront.
This is where the magic happens!
Step 2: Navigate to Your Shop Settings
From your shop manager homepage, click "Settings" in the left sidebar menu.
Next choose "Options" to access your store‘s configuration settings:
Access shop settings from Etsy seller dashboard
This brings up where you can toggle vacation mode on or off.
Time to flick that switch!
Step 3: Slide the Button to Activate Vacation Status
Under the tab labeled "Vacation Mode", simply slide the button at the top to the "On" position.
And just like that – your Etsy shop is officially on vacation!
To save the setting, don‘t forget to click "Save" at the very bottom so your changes apply.
Toggle to enable Etsy vacation mode in shop settings
With vacation mode enabled, your listings will temporarily disappear from search results so buyers cannot purchase them.
It‘s the digital equivalent of hanging that "Gone Fishing!" sign on your online storefront! 🎣
Now let‘s set up an auto-reply message to let any wandering shoppers peeking around your dormant listings know when you‘ll return…
Customizing Your Vacation Auto-Reply in Shop Settings
While your digital doors are closed for vacation, you can customize an automatic message buyers will see if they happen to encounter one of your inactive listings.
Under "Vacation Mode" settings, click into the text box next to "Temporary Shop Announcement" to set up your away notification:
Customize auto-reply message for shoppers while on vacation mode
In your away message, be sure to include:
- Dates you‘ll be unavailable – Let visitors know specifically how long you‘re stepping away so they know when to check back.
- Reason for pause – Share why you‘ve temporarily disabled purchases whether for restocking, vacation, or just a much needed break!
- Gratitude & invitation to return – Thank buyers for understanding and encourage them to check out new inventory upon your return! This builds goodwill.
Craft your notification with a warm, personal tone even in autopilot mode!
Now let‘s get into managing your store behind-the-scenes while you relax…
Top Tips for Managing Your Shop on Vacation Mode
Just because new orders aren‘t coming in doesn‘t mean you can completely ignore your store while on vacation. Here are 5 key areas to address so your break doesn‘t turn into major catch-up stress when you return:
| Area | Tips |
|---|---|
| Existing Orders | Fulfill pre-vacation orders OR adjust processing times and notify customers of delays |
| Expiring Listings | Renew any listings set to expire during your downtime |
| Inventory | Make note of any fast-moving items to restock |
| New Products | Brainstorm fresh product lineup to launch when back |
| Messages | Check convos periodically for urgent inquiries |
Pro tips for managing key shop areas before and during vacation
Let‘s quickly break those down:
Existing Orders – Clear your slate of any orders placed right before your vacation by either fulfilling and shipping them out OR push out processing times substantially (2+ weeks) and send convos alerting buyers of expected delays.
Listings – Check for any listings expiring mid-vacation and renew them so you don‘t lose keyword placements. Edit and upload new products per usual.
Inventory – Make note of top sellers with low inventory to restock when you return. Or create draft listings that are inventory-ready to activate.
Innovation – Downtime for creative recharging! Brainstorm new products, designs, or collections you‘re excited to launch when shop reopens.
Communication – While mostly off grid, try to periodically check messages for any pressing custom order requests or partnership outreach. Adjust visitor expectations if responses will be slower.
Staying on top of these areas will ensure you can ease back into fulfilling orders and listing creation as soon as vacation mode switches off!
Speaking of disconnecting…
Should I Actually Put My Shop On Vacation?
If the thought of temporarily disconnecting from your growing Etsy shop gives you hives, I‘ve got you!
Disappearing completely from the sales circuit for weeks can definitely be nerve-wracking.
But before you veto a vacation altogether, know that occasional short breaks are unlikely to catastrophically tank most established shops. You can mitigate risks.
However, for newer shops experiencing rapid traction, pressing pause for too long could negatively impact hard-earned momentum.
There‘s certainly debate around whether vacation mode helps or hurts Etsy stores.
Let‘s compare two perspectives:
Sellers For Vacation:
"I always see a spike in sales after reopening my shop after vacation mode. Absence makes the heart grow fonder I guess!"
"Occasional breaks keep me creatively charged and prevent burning out. Happy seller, happy life!"
Sellers Against Vacation:
"I lose so much hard-earned search visibility when ‘out of office‘ that my sales took a big hit coming back from 3 weeks offline."
"If you need downtime, just extend processing times substantially on listings instead of disabling buyers altogether."
At the end of the day, it‘s a judgement call depending on the health of your current shop growth and tolerance for risk slowdown.
Monitor your 30/60/90 day sales trends and aim vacation mode for visible business lulls. For example, many sellers schedule annual January/February winter vacations when sales naturally dip post-holiday season.
If you want a lighter lift break, consider selectively increasing processing times on listings rather than full vacation shutdown. This lets you reduce volume coming in while technically staying "open".
Either way – don‘t feel an ounce of seller‘s guilt for prioritizing your mental health over making sales! Just take proactive management steps pre-and-post time off to keep your shop primed for reentry.
You‘ve got this!
As an Etsy seller, occasionally putting your shop into vacation mode can be a strategic way to buy yourself some much deserved R&R between the usual hustle.
Just be thoughtful about timing and prepping your store for seamless success when you return refreshed and ready to make those maker dreams happen!
To quickly recap the 3 simple steps:
✅ Access shop manager dashboard
✅ Navigate to settings > options > vacation mode
✅ Slide button to “on” and save!
Now your store can happily chill until you reactivate it.
Remember to craft a friendly away message, stay on top of key tasks, and monitor sales trends to make the most of downtime.
Have questions about how to leverage Etsy‘s vacation hold strategically? Drop them below!
